Giuliani to be keynote speaker at the GOP convention

The Republican National Committee yesterday unveiled the themes and an initial speakers lineup for the party's convention in St. Paul.

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, will deliver the keynote address on the convention's second night, Sept. 2. Other speakers include several believed to be on John McCain's short list for vice president.

The overall theme - "Country First" - echoes that of McCain, who is to formally accept the nomination on Sept. 4.

On the first night, the theme will be service, and the speakers include President Bush and Laura Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California.

The second night moves to reform with former governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and former senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee. Both sought the nomination, along with former governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania, a possible VP choice.

The third night's theme is prosperity, and besides the vice presidential nominee, speakers include McCain's wife, Cindy, and two others believed to be under running mate consideration: former governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana.

The final night's theme is peace, and besides McCain's acceptance address, speakers include Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Governor Charlie Crist of Florida. Both also have also been talked about as potential running mates.

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After a primary fight made even more bitter by the delegate selection process, Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee announced yesterday that they want a commission to recommend changes.

The panel would look at changes to the timing of primaries and caucuses, reducing the number of superdelegates, and tinkering with the caucus system, which Obama used to great effect. The proposal to establish the commission is to go before the Democratic convention's rules committee on Saturday. If formed, it would make its recommendations by Jan. 1, 2010.

This primary season, Florida and Michigan held their primaries outside the party-approved timetable, leading to months of acrimony. Hillary Clinton, who won the primaries, was pushing for the results to be counted.

But when a DNC rules committee voted in June to give the two states' delegates a half-vote each, that all but sealed Obama's path to the nomination. Obama has since asked that they receive full voting rights, a request the convention's credentials committee is expected to take up Sunday.

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Barack Obama and John McCain both unveiled new ads yesterday aimed directly at penny-pinching families.

"Can we really afford more of the same?" the announcer asks in Obama's TV spot, before accusing McCain of wanting to give big corporations and oil companies hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks by cutting the corporate income tax and by extending President Bush's tax cuts. McCain would offer 100 million Americans "no tax relief at all," the announcer says.

The ad highlights independent analyses that say Obama's tax cut plan would mean three times more in savings for the middle class than McCain's plan.

Obama proposes a $1,000 tax break that would benefit 95 percent of workers and says he would let Bush's tax cuts lapse only for families making more than $250,000 a year.

McCain, meanwhile, was out with a new radio ad that tries to turn the criticism of Obama as a celebrity into a warning for families scared about their finances.

"Celebrities like to spend their millions," the announcer says. "Barack Obama is no different - only it's your money he wants to spend. Obama's got plans - big plans - for your money."

The ad then criticizes Obama over his proposals for more government programs and for wanting to raise the tax rate on some capital gains and estates. Those, the ad warns, would lead to massive federal deficits and higher debts on the backs of children.

"Ready to tax, ready to spend. Not ready to lead," the announcer ad concludes. "That's the real Obama."

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Democratic challengers for US Senate seats in Maine and New Hampshire will speak next Wednesday on the third night of the national convention, organizers announced last night.

Jeanne Shaheen, the former Granite State governor who is trying to oust Republican John Sununu, is on the speaker list, as is Tom Allen, who is trying to unseat Susan Collins.

They will precede the vice presidential nominee.

Democrats are trying to increase their majority in the Senate to at least 60 seats, which would be enough to overcome Republican filibusters and push through bills.

"We have a once-in-a-generation chance to bring meaningful and lasting change to our country by electing Barack Obama President and sending a stronger Democratic majority to the Senate," Senator Charles Schumer of New York, the chairman of Democrats' Senate campaign committee, said in a statement.

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